WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17814, 13 July 1923, Page 5

WEST COAST NOTES

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. (SPBCUI. TO "THH PHSSH.") GEEYMOUTH, July 12. Thomas Alfred Ballan, labourer, 40 years of age, single, was lying in his hut at Blackwater this morning with his throat cut, and a blood-stained razor at his side. Ballan was still alivo, and the indications point to attempted suicide. The police were caled in, and tho victim, -who is in a serious condition, was attended by Dr. Scott, of Eeefton, and then removed to the Eeefton Hospital. Alleged False Pretences. After eluding the police for nearly two years, Jimmy Smith, a man with several aliases, was arrested by Constable Eobertson at Motueka to-day, on a warrant issued at Greymouth in October, 1921, charging him with ob taining goods by false pretences from Mrs McAlister, of Te Kinga. Accused was arrested at Kokiri on the day that tho warrant was issued, but he escaped by rushing down the passage of the hotel in which the arresting constable and ho were to put up for the night, and disappeared in the darkness. The night was very wlid and stormy, and Smith disappeared, apparently having taken to the bush and got right away. Eecently he was observed by the Eeefton police, and Constables Carrol and McNaulty kept the house in which he was seen under observation. Probably Smith was aware of this, as ho again took to the bush, and was not seen again until arrested at Murchison. He will be brought to Greymouth to-morrow to answer charges of false pretences, and of escaping from lawful custody. Fire at Kumara. Firo broke out this morning shortly before 7 o'clock at the residence of Dr. Spencer Daniell, Kumara. The inmates retired last night at about 9 o'clock, when everything appeared safe. At 6.30 a.m. the doctor, who wa3 lying awake, noticed smoko issuing through tho doorway. He immediately rose, and found the front room in flames. The alarm was speedily given, and the fire brigade, under Capt. McFarlane, quickly arrived, and in a short time had the fire under control. Although tho damage by fire is not great, the damage by water is considerable. The house, which is the property of the Westland Hospital Board, is covered by insurance. Dr. Spencer Daniell's furniture is partially covered. High-ways Act. The Grey County Council received from the Engineer-in-Chief ,;.*of the Public Works Department (Mr F. W. Furkert) a letter explaining the operation of the main highways scheme Each of the highway districts, stated Mr Furkert, would naturally /include several counties, and the counties that are proposed to be so grouped should, so far as practicable, have communitv of interest. The grouping on th:« "West Coast Highways District, No. 12" would include Buller, Murchison, Inangahua, Grey, and Westland Counties. The County of Grey has an area of 1452 square miles, a population of 5226, a capital value of £1,026,000, with £6551 in rates collected annuallv, while the roads metalled number 272. Roads metalled in other districts are as follows:—3uller 156, Murchison 142, Inangahua 150, and Westland 220. Mr Furkert asked the assent of the County Council to the Droposala or its sua- j

gestions if it considered amendments were desirable. It waß agreed that grouping be accepted, and that the engineer (Mr J. Higgins) bo appointed the Council '3 delegate to tho District Highway Ooun cil. A Houßing Scheme. A scheme to provide houses by raising a loan under tho Advances to Settlers' Act, for roadmen employed in the county "was suggested to tho Grey County Council at its meeting yesterday by tho engineer (Mr J. Higgins). A lettor was received from the Attarou Sawmilling Co., who provide for the maintenance of a certain portion of the road in their district, offering to supply timber for the erection 6f a house for the roadman if the Council would find a loan and undertake the building of the place. Mr Higgins said a house was badly needed on the Ahaura-Haupiri road. One of the chief difficulties in the way of retaining good roadmen was that they could not find suitable houses. If a man could find a suitable house in his district be would Btop. That was probably one of the objects that actuated the Attarau Sawmilling Co. in making their offer. It would be a good thing if the Council would undertako a scheme of erecting workers' cottages for the accommodation of roadmen. Tho Eangitikei Council had taken up such a scheme and erected 60 houses. Tho company's offer was accepted. Hew Police Station. A local resident is understood to have received an invitation from tfle Police Department to name a price for a section owned by him in Tainui street, which is considered a suitable place for a new police station. The present building is old and worm-eaten. Personal. Cr. J. Irvine and Mr J. Higgins, county engineer, leave Greymouth on July 20th on a holiday visit to Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. They will be absent for about two months.The Mayor of Greymouth (Mr W. H. Parfitt) met with a painful accident in the course of his work this morning. While slicing some bacon he cut the finger and thumb of his left hand so severely that six stitches had to be put in tho finger, and four in the thumb. Westland Bridges. South Wostland is gradually _ overcoming its bridge and road deficiencies. The Waitangi bridge is now ready for traffic. This bridge completes the last of the larger rivers spanned on the road to the Waiho Glacier. Other bridge works contemplated on the Main South road are the strengthening of the Duffer's Creek bridge (which was the first large bridge erected on the South road), and the rebuilding of the two bridges at Deep Creek and Pukekura. The bridginr; of Dry Creek and McDonald Creek on the road to the Glacier is contemplated also, and it is expected that a large vote will be included in the Estimates this year for the bridging of ts* Waiho river. The structure will be * suspension. The erection of .Waikukupa bridge beyond the Waiho, will be gone on with as soon as tho Flower Pot Landing at Bruce Bay is completed. The Public Works Department is calling tenders for two concrete arched road bridges to replace the present wooden structures on the Main South road beyond the Pukekura Hotel. These will be the first of their kind in Westland, though there are many bridges of a Bimilar nature in Nelson province. Native Birds. A district correspondent reports that after an absence of 23 years, kakas have again made their aDgearance in .

some of the sawmill areas close to Hokitika. Many believed that these birds were almost extinct. No doubt the extra heavy falls of snow in tho high country have driven them down. Pigeons are at present very plentiful, due largely to tho fact that the police have been keeping a watchful eye for ''pot-hunters." Hockey Boom. Hockey continues to boom on tho I Coaßt, and six district teams are competing for the McKechnio Cup. Blackball are unbeaten- so far, and hold a very clear lead over their nearest rivals, Mawhora. At the recent Centre meeting, it was decided to ask the Canterbury Centre to send over a representative team during tho present season. It decided to uphold Dunedin's application to hold tho annual tournament in Dunedin, and that if the championships are held in the South Island, tho West Coadt should nominate a team, the Centre colours to bo red and white.